On our last episode of Pride Month, Emmy and Natalia welcome travel expert, speaker, and advocate Mikah Meyer to talk about his three year 419 National Park Service journey, as well as his current projects and why it matters to create safe spaces outdoors too. http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Links: www.mikahmeyer.com Interactive Map: www.mikahmeyer.com/map Outdoor Safe Space Merch: https://www.mikahmeyer.com/adventurepride Documentary: https://www.mikahmeyer.com/documentary Video of Mikah ...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 323
Emmy and Natalia are joined by friend of the pod friend of God Erik Nelson to nerd out on the saints and icons and why it matters to know their names and their stories. Not just as histories but for our own understanding of what it means that God is still speaking through saints today as well. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Follow Erik on Instagram: @sverike
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 322
It’s Pride month, and it feels even more important than ever to speak up and support our LGBTQ+ siblings. Emmy and Natalia process a moment that Emmy recently had during a Q&R (question and response), and how to respond when someone comes at you hard using the Bible as their defense. Links: President Bartlett’s takedown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CPjWd4MUXs Support our show! www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian...
Jun 16, 2025•57 min•Ep. 321
To kick off our Pride month discussions we’re bringing back an oldie but a goodie: episode 23, Emmy’s first appearance on the podcast way back in January 2019. Natalia, Nora McInerny, and Emmy talk “welcoming” vs “affirming,” reclaiming the word “queer,” and what to do with “Bam Bam Christians” who are just a little too into the “clobber verses” of the Bible. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachistian Venmo: @cafeteriachristian
Jun 10, 2025•35 min
Emmy and Natalia continue the conversation about finding a church fit, what your search might lead you into, and why you might not want to church search at all. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachistian Venmo: @cafeteriachristian
Jun 02, 2025•55 min•Ep. 320
We asked, and you all responded! This week Emmy and Natalia read and talk about the ways Cafeterians have church shopped and how it went. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
May 28, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 319
Emmy and Natalia answer our most commonly asked listener question about churches and how to find a “good” church that also is safe, but also has good music, and also good preaching, and and and and and. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
May 19, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 318
Emmy and Natalia welcome Beth Silvers of Pantsuit Politics to spend a little time talking about the intersections of faith and politics and why we haven’t given up on either just yet. Links: Pantsuit Politics: https://www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com/ Sarah Bessey Article: https://sarahbessey.substack.com/p/are-we-still-calling-ourselves-christians www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 317
Emmy and Natalia talk about a few stories about Christianity that have been in the news this week, and why it matters to stay in this faith thing, even when it feels like it would be easier to just walk away. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
May 07, 2025•57 min•Ep. 316
Natalia drags Emmy into her rabbit hole of interest in the papacy and tries to convince her that it matters and that we should care - even if we’re super not Catholic. http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 315
Emmy offers a short meditation on life after Easter Sunday. Content warning for discussion of a suicide attempt. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Apr 25, 2025•21 min•Ep. 314
Emmy and Natalia talk about hope - and why it is so hard to hold onto right now, and what we are doing to hold onto hope when everything else is telling us to just let it go. Poem: Hope is Not a Thing with Feathers Emily, It Is a Sewer Rat - by Caitlin Seida www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 313
Emmy and Natalia talk about how we show up during a week of complicated emotions and feelings, and one that often has a lot of church baggage attached to it. As we get closer to this particular week in the church, let’s reflect on what really matters about each day, and why. http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Apr 08, 2025•57 min•Ep. 312
Emmy and Natalia get into a deeply theological talk about God and faith and life right now and why scripture is still relevant and where God is right now. Notes: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian www.facebook.com/groups/cafeteriachristian Book Club Form link: https://forms.gle/QobkVMPsvLQX44QP7...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 311
Emmy and Natalia welcome Jeff Chu to talk about his new book, Good Soil. Get Jeff’s Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/729761/good-soil-by-jeff-chu/ See Jeff on his book tour: https://byjeffchu.com/tour www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Mar 24, 2025•57 min•Ep. 310
Natalia welcomes back friend of the pod friend of God Angela Denker to talk about her new book “Disciples of White Jesus: the Radicalization of American Boyhood.” This is a relevant, timely, and important book for anyone connected to young men and boys. Links for Angela: Angela’s Website: https://www.angeladenker.com/ Buy Angela’s Book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/disciples-of-white-jesus-the-radicalization-of-american-boyhood-angela-denker/21600261?ean=9798889830757&next=t See Angela at up...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 309
OMG we can’t believe we have to say this (Empathy is Christian) but it turns out some people are really pushing an anti-compassion anti-empathy rhetoric right now and Emmy and Natalia are here to clear the air. We check in about baby eagles and new cars to start, and the main topic begins around min 15. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Jackie and Shadow Webcam: https://www.youtube.com/live/B4-L2nfGcuE?si=nVwiY_CmKADYDv6Y Kate’s Blessing for Empathy: https://katebowler.com/blessings/a-bl...
Mar 10, 2025•50 min•Ep. 308
Emmy and Natalia talk about Lent and the rollercoaster of this whole season in the church: ups and downs and ups and downs and ups? It’s a lot. When life is already a lot. How do we do this sad season when life feels pretty sad on its own? www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Links: Emmy’s Article: https://sojo.net/articles/unintended-consequences-spiritual-discipline Kate’s Lent Devotional: https://katebowler.com/seasonal_devotional/the-hardest-part/#individual...
Mar 03, 2025•58 min•Ep. 307
Emmy and Natalia take some time to talk about a newly controversial topic: The Bible. Hahahahaha obviously this isn’t new, but we thought we’d start with a set of familiar verses to dig into for our return to reclaiming the Bible for good. Notes: Spencer LaJoy - Plowshare Prayer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHQ9FoQC3BI www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 306
Natalia welcomes back Ellie Roscher to talk about how we stay in our bodies despite the many ways the world is trying to get us to disengage, and how we can show up as regulated as possible each day, no matter what is happening. Links: www.ellieroscher.com www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 305
Emmy and Natalia talk about the different large and small ways they are trying to survive and manage their mental, physical, and spiritual health during this new era. Links: Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer: https://www.wordwoman.com/a-daily-dose-of-poetry/ Natalia’s Weekly Uplift: https://www.nataliaterfa.com/uplift www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian...
Feb 10, 2025•58 min•Ep. 304
Emmy and Natalia sit down with the amazing Erin Hicks Moon to talk about her new book: I”ve God Questions: The Spiritual Practice of Having It Out with God. Cafeterians, Erin is our people, and this book is for us. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Erin Hicks Moon details: Buy/preorder her book: https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/i-ve-got-questions/419610 Follow Erin: ErinHMoon on all the things Also her podcast - Faith Adjacent: https://faithadjacent.com/ Her newsletter - The Swipe ...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 303
Emmy and Natalia welcome author Stephanie Duncan Smith for an utterly gorgeous conversation about life’s cycles of loss and grief and joy. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian https://stephanieduncansmith.substack.com/ @stephduncansmith on instagram
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 302
Emmy and Natalia talk about the complicated feelings about this particular January 20th - when we celebrate MLKJr Day and also the presidential inauguration day and how it all cycles into our ability to believe, not believe, and act with love anyway. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian The Drum Major Instinct: https://bethlehemfarm.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/DrumMajorInstinct.pdf...
Jan 20, 2025•59 min•Ep. 301
Emmy and Natalia celebrate their 300th episode (!) and reflect on where they’ve been and where they’re going next, and how where we are now really feels like a good time to go back to our roots. Links: Alter Guild, ep 12: Ritual Promise - https://go.ivoox.com/rf/35237112 www.facebook.com/groups/cafeteriachristian www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 300
Emmy and Natalia talk about Christmas and why it’s so often filled with stress and shoulds instead of peace and joy. After this episode we’ll be taking a break until January 13th, but in between now and then join us for two Instagram Lives (on top of the usual Sunday morning ones). December 21st, 8:30pm (central standard time) - to celebrate the solstice/longest night. January 6th, 11am (central standard time) - to draw star words for anyone who wants one (which you can participate in by filling...
Dec 16, 2024•59 min•Ep. 299
Emmy and Natalia tackle a listener question about the different Christmas story narratives in the different Gospels, and why they are different and if it matters or not when they are. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 298
Emmy and Natalia talk about Advent, and why it’s not a “warm glow” season but actually a truth-telling season and kind of the perfect way to spend a few weeks right now - when everything feels like it’s on fire and no one is ok. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Dec 02, 2024•53 min•Ep. 297
Emmy and Natalia talk about Thanksgiving and the tentative and tender ways some of us are showing up at various tables, or the ways we are choosing to not show up at all. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Nov 27, 2024•56 min•Ep. 296
Emmy and Natalia decide to open the Bible to the book of Judges to see what wisdom for today might be found in these not-so-modern stories. Links: www.facebook.com/groups/cafeteriachristian www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Melissa Florer Bixler: https://substack.com/home/post/p-151371020...
Nov 18, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 295
